26 October 2010

The How Sad Files...

In some truly very sad news, Ruhut Sitompul can no longer afford to smoke cigars since becoming a member of the Democrat Party and entering parliament. All together now, ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, poor Ruhut!

It would seem, if The Jakarta Post is to be believed, that Ruhut is now scraping the bottom of the very deep cigar barrel he owns. As Ruhut describes it, he is almost running on cigar fumes as his only remaining cigars are gifts from former clients of his legal practice days.

However, I do not feel for Ruhut. He reckons that while working as a lawyer he was earning somewhere between USD 100,000 and USD 300,000 per month. Now, a man of his smarts must have surely socked some of that away in a shoe box that he now hides under his bed, right? I reckon the man can still afford to buy cigars. This latest "look at me" sound bite reeks of arrogance and a real lack of appreciation about how tough ordinary Indonesians are doing it on a daily basis.

Seriously, if Ruhut cannot afford to buy cigars then buy cigarettes. Ruhut, no one cares but you! If you are really poor, but still need to chomp on a cigar then buy local, buy the cigars that Indonesia produces. My guess is that your paltry parliamentarian salary will stretch far enough to buy locally produced cigars. I am pretty sure that Sampoerna makes a cigar. If not, then Gudang Garam makes one, right?

Indonesian parliamentarians might not be the best paid parliamentarians in the world but, in the big scheme of all things economic in Indonesia, they are far from being at the "poor" end of the Indonesian salary scale.

Ruhut, time to focus on the really important stuff, mate. Your lack of cigars is not that important to those Indonesians living on or below the poverty line, particularly those who choose to buy cigarettes in preference to feeding or educating their children.

Mr. Sitompul when you have something serious to say the feel free to pipe up and share your wisdom, but in the mean time...Ruhut, please deh!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

When I last saw their package I remember thinking it was not too far away from Ozzie MP's.

Anonymous said...

lawbugger did not attach to last message. I think that guy Ruhut is a drongo.

Rob Baiton said...

@ The Anonymous Lawbugger...

I do not recall to be perfectly honest. But, yeah, overall it is a pretty reasonable package, particularly when you factor in the added bonus of comparative study trips.

Ruhut is nothing more than a media hound. His whole self-worth seems to be wrapped up in being in the news.

Ferdi Z said...

They make cigars somewhere in Central Java I think; they even export to the Netherlands, their main market... forgot the brand though...

Djarum makes mini cigars laced with clove which they call Cigarillos...

Rob Baiton said...

@ Ferdi...

Dos Hermanos, right?

Anonymous said...

Ruhut: Yang Tak Setuju Soeharto Jadi Pahlawan Cuma Anak PKI